Thursday, 22 April 2010

Street children a menace in town

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam

Moving around Mwanza City has become a nightmare because of the rising number of street children.

Since the traffic lights were installed and switched on, the children have flocked to the city centre, and are wreaking havoc on motorists, pedestrians and even shopkeepers with their uncouth behaviour.

Some of the children, probably from deep in the rural areas, have no scruples about relieving themselves in front of shops in full view of passersby and shopkeepers.

But they are also increasingly engaging in pick pocketing and breaking into parked cars to steal any valuable items left behind.

Motorists have the roughest time as these children incessantly badger them for money. If a driver refuses to give them money, they will scratch the vehicles or rip off side mirrors and sidelights.